Conservation focused

FRAZEE, Minn. — On 2,000 acres of sandy ground, Forrest Briard has planted cover crops for the past 15 years, looking to make an impact on the ground where he irrigates and grows his harvest.

Briard, and his wife, Wendy, milk 120 cows near Frazee. They are also parents to 10 children and have 11 grandchildren. The Briards were named the 2024 Outstanding Conservationist for East Otter Tail County.

“We are very proud to receive this award and will continue to preserve the soil for the future,” Briard said. “We live in a unique area with this sand ground and every year you can see the top layer just get blown away. To receive this award reminds us that we are doing the right thing.”

The Briards have been working with the East Otter Tail County Soil and Water Conservation District for many years. In addition to utilizing cover crops on 90% of Briard’s crop ground, he also has installed buffer strips, and formed a nutrient management plan and a manure management plan.

“It took about 5-7 years to see the results, so we weren’t sure what we were getting ourselves into,” Briard said. “But the last 5-8 years of doing this, I am a firm believer in (cover crops).”

When Briard first tried cover crops, their SWCD was offering an incentive program to encourage farmers to try it. Over the years, Briard has implemented more conservation programs at his farm.

“I continue to utilize these practices on my own because of the many benefits,” Briard said. “I can see the benefits time and time again each year.”

The Briard family’s farm went through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program in 2018.

“With this irrigated sand ground, we only have 8-10 inches of black sand, then it is red sand,” Briard said. “It is a whole different world farming up here compared to 90% of the country. We need to maximize every drop of water.”

The Briards grow primarily kidney beans and corn. Cover crops are planted on all kidney bean ground.

“Kidney beans are taken off in the first few days in September, and that is a long time for the ground to be bare around here,” Briard said. “In the spring, with (either) the wind and heavy rain or snow melting can wash away so much of our ground because it is so sandy.”

Due to Briard’s location in northern Minnesota, he is limited on what cover crops he can use because of the shorter growing season.

“Rye can germinate at 27 degrees and that is the only crop that can do that,” Briard said. “We have tried oats and turnips, but they just don’t work as well up here.”

The advantages of cover crops are numerous, Briard said.

“We see the benefit right away with the wind erosion that we would have had without (cover crops),” Briard said. “In the spring, you see it again with the wind erosion. With the sand that we have, sometimes when the wind blows, it creates such a sandstorm. With this cover crop, you can’t help but smile because it is green and the soil isn’t going anywhere. The rain and snow aren’t washing away the topsoil.”

Nutrient holding is another benefit of cover crops.

“We are building organic matter and soil health,” Briard said. “The longer we can wait in the spring to let that cover crop green up, the better, because what is going on (at the) top of the ground is only a small portion compared to what is going on beneath the surface.”

When it rains or when Briard turns on his irrigators, the soil acts like a sponge and holds onto the moisture due to the cover crops. The same goes for nitrogen applications.

“That’s why we spoon feed the nitrogen throughout the season, with side dressing and pumping it through the irrigation systems,” Briard said. “We have slowly seen yield increase because of that, the fact that the crops can hold onto the nutrients and moisture.”

The only challenge with using cover crops is getting them planted amid fall harvest, Briard said.

“To see the main benefit, you have to get it planted at just the right time,” Briard said. “You have to do a lot of planning and logistics. But I love it and enjoy learning more about it and am up for the challenge.”

There is much to learn in the world of cover crops and Briard said he continues to try new things on his farm.

“Every year we improve,” Braird said. “Farming isn’t like it used to be: planting crops in the spring and hoping for the best come fall. Now, it is managing the crops 12 months out of the year to get everything done in a timely manner.”